Mary Ellen Frakes 1926 - 2007

FRAKES, MAHOOD, PAGE

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/16/2017 at 10:32:58

Sioux City Journal
15 January 2017

SIOUX CITY | Mary Ellen Frakes, 90, of Sioux City, passed away Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017, at her home at Brookdale Senior Living.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at First United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Roger Madden officiating. Visitation with family present will be one hour prior to services Tuesday at the church. Condolences may be offered at www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Mary Ellen was born April 26, 1926, in Waterloo, Iowa, the daughter of Lee and Margaret (Mahood) Page. She grew up in Waterloo and graduated from West High School. She earned her bachelor's degree from Rockford (Ill.) College. She did graduate work as a member of the Little Theatre of The Rockies in Greeley, Colo.

In fall 1948, Mary Ellen began her educational career teaching English in Manchester, Iowa.

On Aug. 17, 1951, she married Bill Frakes in Greeley. They moved to Sioux City in 1952.

Mary Ellen was an English and speech teacher and drama coach for the Sioux City Community School District for 20 years. She taught at North Junior, Leeds High School and Hoover Junior High School. She retired in 1982.

Mary Ellen was a 65-year member of First United Methodist Church, where she served on various committees, including the education commission. She was a member of Junior League, PEO Chapter IL, and Portfolio Book Club. Mary Ellen volunteered in the library at Irving Elementary School, and at Perry Creek Public Library.

As an active member of Junior League of Sioux City, Mary Ellen formed the Junior League Children's Theatre. She directed plays, and with cast and crew, she trouped live theater to every elementary school each year in the early 1960s. Theater was her passion, and this project fulfilled her strong philosophy that all children must be exposed to live theater. Mary Ellen's devotion to the theater lives on in her granddaughter.

Mary Ellen performed on the stages of Lamb Arts Regional Theatre and the Sioux City Community Theatre in several productions, including On Golden Pond, The Cemetery Club, and Bad Seed. She also shared her dramatic talents with the Siouxland community by presenting programs to many organizations.

Survivors include her daughter, Julie (Jim) Curry of Norfolk, Neb.; granddaughter, Gillian Curry of New York City, N.Y.; two sisters, Nancy Ankrum of Tiburon, Calif., and Sally (Jim) Stout of Albuquerque, N.M.; nieces, Kathy Ankrum, Pam (Marc) McCaskill and Ellen (Jack) Steele; and nephews, Robert Ankrum, Don (Maureen) Seamonds, Timothy Stout and Michael (Vickie) Tapavica.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and an infant brother.

Memorials will be offered to Lamb Arts Regional Theatre children's programming, Siouxland Humane Society, or First United Methodist Church. Memorials may be made in her name and directed to Mary Ellen’s daughter, Julie Frakes Curry, in care of Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel.